ADD: Why Am I Painting the Living Room? (Berryman)

Subject: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: GUEST,Barbara Mehlman
Date: 21 May 02 - 04:08 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics of the first verse of Lou and Peter Berryman's "Why am I painting the living room?"

Even though it's not trad, they're always at Old Songs and I figure a lot of you may know their stuff. Please email me directly at [e-mail]. I need the words for a column I'm writing. Thanks.

barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: MMario
Date: 21 May 02 - 04:17 PM

Google says it is a Why am I painting the living room but it's blocked from me so I can't verify that.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHY AM I PAINTING THE LIVING ROOM?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 May 02 - 04:25 PM

Right, Mario, here they are:
^^
WHY AM I PAINTING THE LIVING ROOM?
©1988 L&P Berryman. Words by Peter, Music by Lou.

(Lou:)
Holes in the ozone the size of Brazil
Barges of trash in the chewable breeze
Pools of industrial wasteland pate'
Sulfur dioxide dissolving the trees
Pretty soon it will all end with a boom
Why am I painting the living room?

(Peter:)
I have the whole day off
Cause it's a Saturday
There is a bluegrass band
Somewhere along the bay
Look at the lilacs bloom
Why am I painting the living room?

(Lou:)
A pinhead evangelist pays for his sin
With a five dollar fine for a black collar crime
Kingpins of industry knowingly nod
Just like lake Erie they're 12% slime
They wink at the president too I assume
And here I am painting the living room

(Peter:)
I hear the bluebird sing
Don't let the day go by
Look at the blossoms blow
Over the blue blue sky
All with a wild perfume
And here I am painting the living room

(Both (repeated as per melody):)
Why am I painting the living room?

(Lou:)
Ah yes I can see how my tombstone will read
Here lies someone of exceptional worth
Though she did not do a lot for her kind
Or help hold together this crumbling earth
Here lies a woman they're saying of whom
Sure had a good-looking living room...

(e mail sent)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the livin
From: SharonA
Date: 21 May 02 - 04:33 PM

Yup, it's there, MMario!

In the section with the notation "(Both (repeated as per melody):)", the lyric "Why am I painting the living room?" is sung six times.

Oh, and Barbara, in the part that Peter sings ("I have the whole day off..."), one must over-emphasize the "b" in every word beginning with that letter. For instance, the lyric "There is a bluegrass band Somewhere along the bay Look at the lilacs bloom" should be "there is a Buh-loo-grass Band somewhere along the Bay look at the lilacs Buh-Loomm". It's hard to translate to the typed word, but I hope you know what I mean!

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 May 02 - 05:09 PM

Reply rec'd by e mail:
"Thank you so much for the lyrics -- and so fast! I'm writing a review of the play "The Man Who Had All the Luck," about a young man whose life was blessed. He never had a hardship, everything always went his way and he prospered. But he couldn't enjoy his good fortune because people were starving, and children were abused.... You get the idea. Reminded me of the song and I thought I'd use the first two verses to introduce my thoughts on the play.

barbara"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 May 02 - 05:15 PM

Should we say something to Barbara about the dreaded "c" word??? As in, Permission to use???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: MMario
Date: 21 May 02 - 08:20 PM

If she qoutes and attibutes it as part of a play review it should fall under "fair use"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: Joe_F
Date: 21 May 02 - 08:36 PM

Their own copyright notice reads: "All rights (and wrongs) reserved. Except for live performance of the songs, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without permission in writing by the authors. Failure to comply will result in everything you touch turning to hair."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Berryman: Why am I painting the living
From: Peter Berryman
Date: 21 May 02 - 09:08 PM

This is official, officious permission from me for Barbara Mehlman to use lyrics from our song Why Am I Painting the Living Room in her column, just so she puts "©1988 L&P Berryman" in there somewhere. (This should also serve as temporary suspension for Barbara of the hair warning). I'd like to thank everyone sincerely for being concerned about the copyright issue! --Peter B

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Am I Painting the Living Room?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 09:48 AM

Today seems an appropriate day to revive this thread, given the unfolding nuclear disaster in Japan.

Thanks, Peter, for composing this song.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Am I Painting the Living Room?
From: bbc
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 06:58 AM

Barrymans are known for their amazing lyrics. To help support their creative work, why not buy their fabulous songbook, Lou & Peter's Big Songbook?"

bbc (who owns a copy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Am I Painting the Living Room?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 08:22 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Why Am I Painting the Living Room?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 05:23 PM

Just a little more touch-up and it's finished!

The short answer is that I find it therapeutic.

Charley Noble